Device for measuring dry materials.



F. GILES. DEVICE FOR MEASURING DRY MATERIALS.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. II, 'I9I4- I 1,189,248. Patented July 4, 1916.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FICZll i. F. GILES.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING DRYMATERJALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1914.

1 1 89,248. Pavzsnted J uly 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- FIG'iI IE 50" I [a i F GILES DEVICE FOR MEASURINQDRYMATERlALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. H, 1914.

Patented July 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. F. GILES.

DEVQCE FOR MEASURING DRY MATERIALS.

' 5 SHEETSTSHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, I914.

Patented'July 4,

I I. F. GILES.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING DRY MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. II. 1914.

Patented July 4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- I Imwwtor Eaao E dim-s,

ISAAC F. GILES, 0F TBENTON, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING DRY MATERIALS.

Application filed March 11, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Isaac F. GILES, ofTrenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for MeasuringDryMaterials, whereof the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to devices for filling capsulesor the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a measuring devicewhereby a predetermined weighed quantity of dry material, such powderedchemicals. etc.. may be equally divided as a whole. into a predetermined number of subdivisions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring device forremoving successively from a supply magazine equal amounts of drymaterial by th* aid of a reciprocating member. which is moved forwardstep by step by a traveling carriage moving in a path at right angles tothe path otsaid reciprocating member. and provided with devices forimparting equal increments of movement to said reciprocating: member.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a .device of the abovecharacter. with means whereby the increments of movement imparted to thereciprocating member may be varied.

further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter. with means whereby the length of the step movement given tothe carriage may bevaried.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a measuring deviceof the above character. with a capsule carrier and devices. fortransferring the measured amount of material'to the capsule.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a capsule fillingmachine of the above character. with devices for contract ing the upperor open end of the capsule to facilitate the closing of the same.

These and other objects will in part be obvious. and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinven tion. Figure I, is a plan view of the cap-' sule filling machineembodying my 1m-' 'provement.

Specification of Letters Patent.

-ciprocating the same.

Patented July 4, 1918..

Serial No. 823,895.

a vertical sectional view on the line IVIV of Fig. I. Fig. V. is adetail in perspective, showing the traveling carriage and the devicesfor imparting movement to the reciprocating member. Fig "I. is a topplan view of a portion of the machine with the receiving hopper cut awayand showing the devices for transferring the measured amounts ofmaterial to the funnel. which directs the same to the capsule. Fig. VII,is a detail partly in section. showing the mem bers directly engagingthe plunger for re Fig. VIII, is a detail in perspective. showing theshoe which is carried by the lower end of the reciprocating head whichmoves the plunger. the shoe being inverted in this view. Fig. IX, is adetail in section. showing the connection of the actuating bar-to thetraveling carriage. Fig. X. is a detail in section. showing the meansfor holding said actuating bar in adjusted position.

The invention consists generally in providing a magazine in which apredetermined amount of bulk of the material is pl ed and this magazineis formed with a vertically reciprocating plunger which serves as amovable bottom therefor. The plunger is raised by devices which impartequal increments of movement thereto. .whereby equal measured amounts ofmaterial are raised above the top of the magazine. rcciprocating ejectorremoves the portion of the material above the top of the magazine andtransfers the same to a chute which leads to a funnel located above thecapsule carrying member. This capsule carrying member is intermittentlyrotated so as to bring the capsules successively under the tunnel. Thetunnel is slightly raised so as to permit the positioning of theapsules, attel which the tunnel descends over the.tcp of the capsules.Said tunnel is so shaped as to slightly contract the top of the capsulesand directs the filling material into the capsules. The plunger israised by a traveling carriage which moves in a direction substantiallyat right angles to the path of movement of the plunger, and thiscarriage is provided with a bar arranged at an inclination to the pathof travel of the carriage.

The bar engages a reciprocating head which according to the amount ofmaterial within the magazine. The carriage is moved step by step anddevices are provided for vary? ing the length. of the step movementgiven to the carriage.

Referring more in detail to the drawhngs, my improved measuringapparatus consists of a bed plate 1, having standards 2, which support atable3. Mounted on the table 3, 1s a magazine 4. This magazine, as

- attached to the ejector 11,

herein shown, is cylindrical in cross-section and extends through thetable 3. A bracket 5, is secured to the lower end of the magazine andthis bracket supports the upper ends of the parallel rods 6, 6, whichare also secured in the bed plate 1. A collar 7, serves to secure themagazine rigidly to the table 3. The magazine 4, is open at its upperend and a plunger 8, extends up into the same, and serves as a movablebottom therefor. The plunger 8, is raised by successive increments ofmovement by mechanism to be described later. The magazine is filled witha predetermined amount of the material which is to be divided and as theplunger is raised a measured amount of material will be raised above thetop of the magazine. The magazine carries a 9, at its upper end and thisshelf is supplemented with a downwardly inclined chute 10. Areciprocating ejector 11, is slidably mounted on the shelf 9, and movehorizontally across the top of the magazine. When a measured amount ofmaterial is raised above the top of the magazine, the ejector as itmoves forward will remove this measured amount and dischar e the sameinto the chute 10. A funnel 12, 1s and is for the purpose of guiding the'dry material into the magazine. The e ector 11, is formed with aU-shaped inner end 13, see Fig. VI, which partly surrounds the openingat the top of the magazine. The chute 10, is slightly enlarged at itstop as indicated at 14, see Fig. VI, so as to aid in receiving all thematerial moved forward by the ejector.

Mounted on the bed plate 1, is a main operating shaft 15, which isrotated, as herein shown, by a crank handle 16. This shaft is journaledin suitable bearings 17. A beveled gear 18, meshes with a beveled gear19, on a cross shaft 20, which is mounted in suitable bearings 21. A cam22, is carried by the cross shaft 20, and this cam operates upon a lever23, pivoted at 24, to a bracket 25, car-.

by the table 3. The lever 23, is maintamed in engagement with cam 22, bymeans of a leaf spring 26, attached to the top of table 3. The upper endof the lever 23, is formed with a slot, which engages a pin 27,

As the shaft 20, rotates, the lever 23, will be oscillated, which willin turn reciprocate the ejector. At the front of the machine, there issleeve 29. This laterally projecting shelf is adapted to a capsulecarrier consisting of a fixed vertical rod 28, on which is mounted arotatable sleeve at its upper end carries a disk 30, which is connectedthereto by a key 31'. Said disk 30, is adjustable vertically by means'ofa set screw 32, to accommodate capsules of various sizes. The disk 30,is provided with sockets adapted to receive the lower ends of thecapsules. A second spaced disk 33, is attached to'the upper end of thesleeve 29, and is provided with openings 34, which are in alinement withthe sockets in disk 30. The disk 33, is removably attached to theupperend of the sleeve 29, and a leaf spring 35, bears against the diskand holds it in place. This spring abuts against a shoulder 36, at thetop of sleeve 29. A shouldered screw 37, passes through the'upper end ofthe sleeve 29, into the sup porting rod 28, and holdsthe sleeve in placethereon. The lower end of the sleeve 29, carries a ratchet wheel 38. Apawl 89, operates the ratchet 38, and is reciprocated from the mainshaft 15, by an eccentric 40, and will thus impart an intermittentmovement to the capsule carrier.

A funnel 41, overhangs the disk 33, and is carried by a swinging bracket42. This funnel hasa cone-shaped recess 43, at its lower end. Thebracket 42,, is adapted to be raised, lifting the funnel to permit thecapsules to be swung into place underneath the same. The disk 30, ispreferably so adjusted that the capsule projects slightly above saiddisk 33. When the capsule is in place, the funnel is lowered over theupper end thereof and the cone-shaped recess en gages the capsulecontracting its open end, which facilitates the placing of the cap onthe capsule. The bracket 42, is fixed to a shaft 45, which carries anarm 46, which projects rearwardly and thence downwardly, see Figs. IVand VI. This downward projecting arm- 46, is acted upon by a cam 47,

fixed to the shaft 20, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV. A coiledspring 48, keeps arm 46, in enga ement with its cam 47 (F i VI). As theshat t 20 rotates the cam 47, wilfintermittently raise the funnel topermit the movement of the capsules underneath the same. This funnel 41,is so positioned that the material is fed into the same from the chute10. i

A packing rod 49, is carried by an arm 50, and extends into the funnel41, (see Fig. 111)." The arm 50,, is fulcrumed at 51, to the bracket 25.The arm projects downwardly below the fulcrum 51, and is provided with afinger 52, which lies in the path of a toothed cam 53, mounted on theshaft 20. A spring 54, forces the finger 52, into engagement with cam53. As this cam rotates, the finger 52, will be raised by these teeth orprojections and drop off the same, under an oscillating or vibratingmovement to the arm 50, which will in turn vibrate the rod 49, in thefunnel 41. This serves to stir and loosen the material, in the funneland also packs the material into the capsule.

The plunger 8, is raised by a traveling carriage 55. This carriage isformed with a supporting plate 56, whichhas a dovetailed connection witha guide rail 57. The carriage comprises spaced uprights 58, which arerigidly attached to the supporting plate 56. A rack 59, is attached tothe supporting plate 56, and is adapted to cotiperate with a pawl 60.The pawl 60,, is carried at the end of a rod 61, which is formedintegral with a strap 62,"co5perating with an eccentric 63, on the mainshaft 15. As the main Shaft 15, rotates, the pawl will be reciprocatedhorizontally to move the carriage 55.

A pawl guard 64, overlaps the rack 59, and serves to limit the movementimparted to the rack through the reciprocating pawl 60, which owing tothe eccentric connection has a fixed throw. In other words, this pawlguard is so positioned that when the pawl 60, is reciprocated, it willbe drawn up on the pawl guard, so that only a portion of'its movement isimparted to the rack 59. When the pawl moves forward, it slips off thepawl guard, engages a tooth in the rack 59, and moves the rack until itreaches the forward end of its stroke. In order to vary the effectivemovement of the pawl 60, with relation to the carriage 55, the positionof the pawl guard 64, may be adjusted by means of a thumb knob 66. Thisknob is secured to a stud shaft 67, carried by a bracket 68.

To the other end of shaft 67, is secured an arm 69, which is pivotallyconnected with the slide 70, carrying the pawl guard 64;, by

means of a link 71. It will thus be seen that' the psition of the guardmay be adjusted by the manipulation of the knob 66. The adjustment ofthe guard is recorded by means of a pointer 72, cooperating with agraduated sector 73, formed integral withbracket (38. The graduations onthe sector may be such as to indicate vari-' ous equal subdivisions ofthe contents of the magazine. as \\'Ill be more speciiically describedlater. The carriage 55,, is

provided with 'an actuating bar 75, having a central rib 76. Said bar isrigidly attached to a U-shaped bracket 77, which is mounted on pivotscrews 8. carried, by the uprights of the carriage. see Fig. IX. Acurved rod 7), is fixed to the actuating bar 75, and extends through acollar 80, supported between the uprights of the carriage (see Fig. X).The collarSO, serves as a spacer for the side frames 58, of the carriage55, and surrounds a pin 82fprovided with a reduced threaded portion 83.which is engaged by a thilmb nut 81. The curved rod 79, extends throughan enlarged aperture in the pin 82, so as to plunger,

ing the rod 79, and preventing any acci-' dental displacement of thesame after the actuating bar has been set. The outer end of the rod 79,is formed with a suitable thumb knob 85.

The lower end of the plunger 8, is provided with a ball ,stud 86, whichrests on a cross head 87, slidingly mounted on the vertical guide rods6. In order that the lunger 8, may be caused to'move vertical y in equalincrements by the cross head 87, corresponding with those of thecarriage 55, regardless of the inclination of the actuating bar 75, Ihave provided a combined pivotal and sliding connection withthe latterin the form of a shoe 90, (Fig. VIII) having trunnions 89, mounted inlugs 88, depending from the cross head 87. The shoe 90, is provided witha flat face 91, which is in a common plane with the longitudinal centerof the trunnions 89, and is adapted to slide upon the upperface of therib 76, formed the actuating bar.

tance between the center of the trunnions and the top of the plunger 8,is a fixed dimension, regardless of the position or angu- -larity of thebar 75, so that equal increments of movement of the carriage will at alltimes cause equal increments of movement in the in proportion totheangle of the bar 75, which mayvary according to the quantity of theinitial charge in the magazine, as will be more specifically describedlater.

A stop screw 92. is adj ustablv mounted in a lug 93, on the bed plate 1.A similar stop screw 94, is mounted in a lug 95, carried by the bedplate at the other end of the path of travel of the carriage. These stopscrews limit the movement of the carriage and consequently limitthe-movement of the plunger, so that its range of movement is from thelower end of the magazine to the upper end thereof.

In the operation of my device, the carriage is first moved to the right(Fig. II) until engaged by the set screw 94. The actuating rod v75, isthen moved down into coincidence with the angle of the side frames ofthe carriage so that the top of. the plunger 8. may drop to the verybottom of the magazine. A predetermined amount of the material to bedivided is then placed into the magazine. The actuating bar 75, is thenadjusted by means of the thumb knob 85, until the top of the powder inthe magazine is flush with the upper surface of the shelf 9, whereuponthe bar 75, is clamped into position by means of the thumb nut 81.

In order to divide the predetermined weighed quantity of powder to filla given number of capsules, the pawl guard is adjusted by means of thethumb knob in accordance with the-graduation on the sector correspondingto the integer for the number of divisions desired. The capsules arethen placed in the capsule carrier and a rotating of the main shaft willcause the ejector to move across the top of the magazine, carrying withit a measured amount of material which is delivered into the chute, andfrom the chute into the funnel and thence to the capsule. The nextrotation of the main shaft through the cams on the cross shaft 20, willraise the funnel, move the capsule carrier so as to bring a new capsuleinto position under the funnel, and then lower the funnel on to thecapsule. This same movement of the main shaft will give the plungeritsnext upward increment of movement, thus raising another equalmeasured amount of material above the top of the magazine, whichmaterial, as before, is removed by the ejector and delivered to acapsule. V a 9 The angle of the actuating bar being fixed, will causethe plunger to be moved equal increments corresponding in proportion tothe increments of the carriage 55, under the influence of-pawl 60, whoseeffective movements are also fixed by the adjustment of the pawl guard64. It will thus be seen that the contents of the magazine will beequally divided until exhausted. The set screw 92, which limits themovement of the carriage to the left, Figs. I and II, is so adjustedthat when the said carriage engages the same,'the top of the plunger 8,will be flush with the surface of the shelf 9, so

that all the material in the magazine will be delivered in equaldivisions.

While I have described my device as measuring dry materials anddelivering the same to capsules, it will be understood that the measuredamounts may be otherwise used. It will 'also be understood that mycapsule filling device may be used in connection with automaticmechanism for han dling the capsules. It will also be understood thatvarious changes in the details of construction and arrangement of partsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A measuring apparatus comprising a supply magazine, the capacity ofwhich is capable of being adjusted to exactly hold a predetermined orweighed quantity of maing the said plunger to vary the capacity of thesaid magazine, to exactly hold a pre determined. or weighed quantity ofmaterial, and means for dividing the contents of the said magazine intoa predetermined number of. equal subdivisions after the adjustment ofthe said plunger.

3. A. measuring apparatus comprising a supply magazine and mechanism for removing therefrom successively equal amounts of material, includinga reciprocating member, a carriage movable substantially at right anglesto the path of reciprocation of said member, means for moving saidcarriage step by step, and devices mounted on said carriage for engagingsaid reciprocating member for giving thereto equal increments ofmovement for each step movement of the ing therefrom successively equalamounts of material, includinga reciprocating member, a carriage movablesubstantially at right angles to the path of reciprocation of saidmember, means for moving said carriage step by step, devices mounted onsaid carriagc for engaging said reciprocating member for giving theretoequal increments of movement for each step movement of the carriage, andmeans whereby the step by step movement given by the carriage may bevaried.

5. A measuring apparatus comprising a supply magazine and mechanism forrcmoving therefrom successively equal amounts of material, including areciprocating carriage movable subsequently at right angles to saidreciprocating member, means for moving the carriage step by step, anact;- ating bar mounted on said carriage at an inclination to the pathof travel of the carriage, and devices for slidingly connecting saidreciprocating member to said actuating bar.

6. A measuring apparatus comprisinga supply magazine and mechanism forremoving therefrom successively equal amounts of material, including areciprocating carriage movable substantially at right angles to saidreciprocating member, means for moving the carriage step by step, anactuating bar mounted on said carriage at an inclination to the path oftrai'el of the carriage, devices for slidingly connecting saidreciprocating member to said actuating bar, and means for varying theangle of inc i ating bar.

nation of said new 7. A measuring apparatus comprising a supply magazineand mechanism for removing therefrom successively equal amounts ofmaterial, including a reciprocating carriage movable substantially atright angles to said reciprocating member, means for moving the carriagestep by step, an actuating bar mounted on said carriage at aninclination to the path of travel of the carriage, devices plunger.

for slidingly connecting said reciprocating me'riiber to said actuatingbar, means for varying the angle of inclination of said actuating bar,and means for varying the step by step movement given to the carriage.

A measuringapparatus comprising a supporting bed; cylindrical magazinemounted in a vertical position on saidbed, a plunger adapted toreciprocate in said magazine and forming the bottom thereof, an ejectormovable across the top of said magazine for removing a measured quantityof material raised above the top of the magazine, means for raising saidplunger step by step, and means for varying the length of the stepmovement given to the said plunger.

9. A measuring apparatus comprising a supporting bed, a cylindricalmagazine mounted in a vertical position on said bed, a plunger adaptedto reciprocate in said magazine and forming the bottom thereof, anejector movable across the top of said magazine for removing a measuredquantity of material, raised above the top of the magazine, means forraising said plunger step by step, including acarriage movable in adirection substantially at right angles to the path of movement of saidplunger, devices for moving said carriage step by step,

and an actuating bar mounted on said carriage and adapted to slidinglyengage said 10. A measuring apparatus comprising a supporting bed, acylindrical magazine mounted in a vertical position on said bed, aplunger adapted to reciprocate in said magazine and forming the bottomthereof, an ejector movable across the top of said magazine for removinga measured quantity of material raised above the top of the magazine,means for raising said plunger step by step, including a carriagemovable in a direction substantially at right angles to the path ofmovement of -said plunger, devices for moving said carriage step, bystep, an actuating bar mounted on said carriage and adapted to slidinglyengage said plunger, and means for varying the angle of inclination ofsaid actuating bar for varying the capacity of the magazine toaccommodate a predetermined or weighed quantity of ma, terial.

11. A measuring apparatus comprising a supporting bed, a cylindricalmagazine mounted in a vertical position on said bed,

a. plunger adapted to reciprocate in said magazine and forming thebottom thereof, an ejector movable across the top of said magazine forremoving a measured quantity of material raised above the top of themagazine, a cross head connected to said plunger, means for guiding saidcross head, a carriage movable substantially at right angles to the pathof travel of said plunger, means for moving said carriage step by step,an actuating bar mounted on said carriage at an inclination to the pathof travel thereof, a connecting block adapted to slidingly engage saidactuating bar and having trunnions adapted to engage depending lugsmounted on said cross head.

12. A measuring apparatus comprising a supporting bed, i a cylindricalmagazine mounted in a vertical position on said bed, a. plunger adaptedto reciprocate in said magazine and forming the bottom thereof, anejector movable across the top of said magazine for removing a measuredquantity of material raised above the top of the magazine, a cross headconnected to said plunger, means for guiding said cross head, a carriagemovable substantiallyat right angles to the path of travel of saidplunger, means for moving the carriage step by step, an actuating barmounted on said carriage at an inclination to the path of travelthereof, a connecting block adapted to slidingly engage said actuatingbar and having trunnions adapted to engage depending lugs mounted onsaid cross head, and means for varying the angle of inclination of saidactuating bar for varying the capacity of the magazine to accommodate apredetermined or weighed quantity of material.

13. A measuring apparatus comprising a vertical magazine, areciprocating plunger forming the bottom of said magazine, an angularadjustable actuating bar for raising said plunger, a carriage supportingthe said actuating bar; means for moving said carriage step by step in adirection substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the said plunger, a combined sliding and pivotalconnection between the said actuating bar and the supporting'erossheadfor the plunger including a shoe pivotally connected to the saidcrosshead and having a fiat face in a common plane with its pivotalsupport, said flat face being adapted to slidably engage the actuatingbar and automatically adjust itself to the various angular positions ofthe said actuating bar,

substantially as set forth.

14. A measuring apparatus comprising a vertical magazine, areciprocating plunger forming the bottom of the said magazine, anangularly adjustable actuating bar for raising said plunger, a combinedpivotal and sliding connection between the said plunger a and actuatingbar, a carriage for said actuatingbar, a toothed rack on said carriage,a.

cooperating reciprocating pawl adapted to impart a step by step movementto the said carriage, and means for varying the effective throw of saidpawl with respect to the said carriage.

15. A measuring apparatus comprising a vertical magazine, areciprocating plunger forming the bottom of the said magazme, an

angularly adjustable actuating bar for ra1s-' mg said plunger, acombined pivoted and. sliding connection between the sand plunger andactuating bar, a carnage for said actuating 1 a teothed rack on saidcarriage, a coiip reciprocating pawl adapted to impa a step by stemovement to the said carriage, and means or varying the effective throwsaid pawl with respect to the said carriage, including a pawl guardslidably mounted above said rack in the path of the tity of materialabove the top of the magazine and means for removing said measuredquantity of material and directing the same to a capsule.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this sixth day of March, 1914.

' ISAAC F. GILES.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

Qeaiea this patent may he obtained for Me cents each, by addressing the"Commiulue: of Patents,

Washington, D. G."

